Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (CSSD) is a drama school founded by Elsie Fogerty in 1906, as The Central School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art, to offer a new form of training in speech and drama for young actors and other students. It became a constituent college of the University of London in 2005 and is a member of Conservatoires UK and the Federation of Drama Schools.[3]
"Royal Central School" redirects here. For other uses, see Royal Central (disambiguation).
Other names
Central, Royal Central, CSSD, RCSSD
Central School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art, Central School of Speech and Drama
Drama school and public university conservatoire
1906
2005: Incorporated into the University of London
£19.4m (2016/17)[1]
John Willis
Sonia Friedman (since 2022)
- Zoë Wanamaker
- Cicely Berry (deceased)
- Carrie Fisher (deceased)
(since 2021)
1,100 (2019/20)[2]
690 (2019/20)[2]
410 (2019/20)[2]
51°32′39″N 0°10′26″W / 51.5442°N 0.1738°W
Urban
Red
Courses[edit]
The school offers undergraduate, postgraduate, research degrees and short courses in acting, actor training, applied theatre, theatre crafts and making, design, drama therapy, movement, musical theatre, performance, producing, research, scenography, stage management, teacher training, technical arts, voice and writing.[4]
Buildings[edit]
The school is located at Swiss Cottage in North London, an area which is being redeveloped as a "civic and cultural quarter" which includes a new extension building for the school, replacing 1960s accommodation. The school's theatre is located inside the new building, which was awarded a BREEAM rating of "very good".[6]
Research[edit]
In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise the majority of Central's submission was judged "world leading" or "internationally excellent". The school has been ranked sixth in its league of specialist institutions by The Guardian,[15] and ninth for drama and dance.[16]
The school has over 20 doctoral candidates.[17] The first PhD was awarded in 2010.[18]
The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama – Official Website
